In 1680, Governor Antonio de Otermin of Santa Fe retreated through the area to El Paso during the Pueblo Revolt. By this time, the Piro Pueblo, as well as many other Pueblos, were already abandoned due to Spaniard encroachment.

After the Piro were gone, the Spanish built a military post called "New Sevilla" on the site. This post became an important stop on El Camino Real and was at various times named "Joya de Sevilleta" and "La Jolla,".[1]

The Sevilleta de la JoyaLand Grant was given to the people of Sevilleta by the Governor of New Mexico prior to Mexican independence from Spain in 1821. The area passed from Mexican to United States control as a result of the Mexican–American War.

Socorro county bought this land in a public sale in 1928, because taxes on land could not be paid by the community that owned the land grant.[2] In 1936, General Thomas Campbell bought this land from Socorro County and used it as a cattle ranch. In 1966, shortly before his death, Campbell established a foundation that eventually decided to preserve the land of Sevilleta by creating a wildlife refuge. In 1973 the foundation gave the land to The Nature Conservancy, which in turn gave it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. On December 28, 1973, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge was established.[3]

The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge has some areas set aside for scientific research, and permits to conduct research are available.[4] Limited hunting of doves and waterfowl is permitted.[5] Most, but not all, of the refuge is off limits to the public and its development is left to nature. Use such as hiking and photography are permitted in some areas, but picnicking and camping are not permitted anywhere in the refuge.[6]